Eagles rookie WR Ainias Smith scores the primary landing in opposition to the Giants

• Tim McManus, ESPN staff writerJanuary 6, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET

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  Tim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine's Birds 24/7, a website he helped create since 2010. You can follow him on Twitter @Tim_McManus.

PHILADELPHIA – Eagles No. 3 quarterback Tanner McKee continues to make the most of his limited opportunities.

With the Eagles resting most of their starters in the regular-season finale against the New York Giants and backup Kenny Pickett dealing with a rib injury, McKee got the go-ahead shot and sliced ​​the Giants up on their first drive, making it 3-0. Victory. 3 for 48 yards and a touchdown.

McKee got the Eagles on the field with 6:51 remaining in the first frame. He floated left before throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Ainais Smith on the edge of the goal line.

Tanner McKee to Ainias Smith for the @Eagles TD!

📺: #NYGvsPHI on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/XVFWWbduKl

— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025

This is the result of an impressive cameo against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 in which he went 3 of 4 for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick at Stanford, has impressed in every appearance he's had so far, mostly in training camp and preseason.

As this success carries over to regular season games, its value increases.